Thursday, January 31, 2013

Today is a virtual book tour stop with Damaris West as she tours her novel, Skolthan.Welcome, Damaris. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.I
was born and brought up in Cambridge, UK, and became a modern linguist,
librarian, nursery teacher and finally Director of a UK-wide employment agency
for professionals. I currently live with my husband and 3 dogs in a rebuilt
farmhouse in Umbria, Italy. I write a
daily blog about my life here -
http://italyhouse.wordpress.com.My hobbies
include playing the violin, gardening, photography, and reading.Please
tell us about your current release, Skolthan.

It's
the story of a very private woman with a secret that she tries fiercely to
protect. From her lonely house on the edge of a salt marsh, Hilda can reach an
island which is the portal to a paradise world. This world is the object of the
machinations of witches and a warlock, who will stop at nothing to gain access.
Hilda needs to outwit them and kill the invasion.

What
inspired you to write this book?

Probably
a feeling for the real-life island, which is quite beautiful, and also a sense
of what it would be like to live on the edge of the marsh, isolated, with life
revolving around the weather and the tides. It was a short step from there to
imagine hostile forces trying to break through to a world beyond.

Excerpt:

And then I saw Joshua reappear. I knew
it was him because of his stature and the authority in his gait. He seemed to
be surrounded by a thick mist which moved with him, and the contours of his
features and of his limbs blurred and shifted from one form to another. It was
Joshua, and yet one moment there was a man dressed in neutral-coloured clothes,
grey-bearded and powerful, and the next there was an animal with a hair-covered
chest, horns and the pointed beard of a goat.

The half-human figure seemed as tall as
a tree in comparison with the girl huddled at his feet, and the women drew back
so that she gradually became aware of his presence. As soon as she saw him she
shrank away, but he reached down and picked her up with one arm under her
shoulders and the other under her legs. Then he straightened and held her
carelessly so that her head lolled back and her dark hair streamed down like a
waterfall. After a few moments, in which she never struggled, he raised her, so
that I wondered if he was going to kiss her. But instead, with one massively
energetic gesture, he flung her with both arms like he might have hurled a pile
of bedding, and she sailed through the air, over the margin of shore and into
the opaque water of the mudflats, without even uttering a single cry.

Her body disappeared, sucked down into the glutinous silt
which in places has the properties of quickmud. In my dream I moved towards her
and saw her head reappear: damp hair clung to her cheeks, rivulets of mud ran
down over her forehead and her eyes were wide and black with emotion. The
emotion didn’t seem to be fear any more, or even desperation; it looked more
like bewilderment, and with that expression on her face, staring straight at
me, she sank back under the brown water.

What
exciting story are you working on next?

I've
nearly finished a story about wolves as a force for good and against child
abuse. It's set here in Umbria.

When
did you first consider yourself a writer?

I
think when I wrote my first poem about a wild goose migrating. I was 8 or 9,
and I showed it through the fire escape door at school to some older girls who
gave me the thumbs up. After that a group of friends and I started writing a
sort of chain novel, with each of us writing a chapter and passing it on. The
result was quite comical.

Do
you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and
how do you find time to write?

I
run a publishing company with my husband Clive, but he's very good to me and
allows me more than my fair share of time to write. My main distractions are to
do with living here: seasonal jobs in the garden, house maintenance, or things
regarding the dogs. I don't have a daily programme and I basically write when
there's nothing else pressing.

What
would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I
make only a vague plan and then allow the book to suggest its own development.
Also whenever possible I write about the current season in order to get the
atmosphere.

As
a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A
lady of leisure with a big house and garden and lots of animals - then a
psychiatrist.

Anything
additional you want to share with the readers?

If
you've got the talent, have written something worth reading and don't want the
hassle of self-publishing, please submit your book or outline plus sample to us
so we can consider it! The URL is http://www.anysubject.com/writers-wanted.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Today is a virtual blurb blitz stop for paranormal romance novelist Natalie Nicole and her book See Me.

Along with a glimpse into her novel, Natalie
be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the
tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And for more chances to win, visit other stops and comment.

Bio and links:

Natalie-Nicole
Bates is a book reviewer and author.

Her
passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian
era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her
uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She
currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to
her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Carly Anders is hearing voices in her head.
Another one of her kind is trying to contact her. She knows of the malevolent
freaks—others who are eternal like her and seek out the weak to inflict pain
upon. For years, Carly has held up huge protective walls to keep herself and
her secrets safe. Now, physically and mentally exhausted, Carly needs
protection and rest.

She accepts the invitation to visit an Internet friend who needs help appraising a collection of antique
photographs. The situation is not ideal,
but Carly hopes a male presence in her life will deter the determined suitor
who haunts her thoughts and dreams.

Daniel Tremont is not what Carly is expecting.

The former funeral director has a secret of
his own. Not only is he eternal like Carly, he is her creation from all those
years before—her abomination she thought she killed.

Daniel has been searching for Carly for years.
He knows she is the piece of his life that he has been missing for so long. Now
that he has found her, he has no intentions of letting her go.

Excerpt:

A flicker of life ignited in her
eyes. Her hands came up to his face, and to Daniel’s surprise, tears bubbled
from his own eyes. He was releasing the pain and fear he had absorbed from his
beloved.

In his mind, he could see the moving
clockwork gears of her thoughts once again as she tried to process what he was
telling her to be true.

“Just accept it, and let’s move
forward.”

She drew his face to hers and her
lips parted beneath his. Time blurred and he drank in the essence of his Carly.
Her soft, barely covered curves molded themselves against his the hard planes
of his body. Her hands were under his t-shirt, her fingers stroking him.

If he pressed on, he knew she
wouldn’t refuse him. But in her vulnerable state, he wouldn’t let anything
progress further that night. Carly needed time to process everything that
happened. There was plenty of time to pursue a physical relationship. They
weren’t going any where…he hoped.

Readers, don't forget to leave an e-mail address with a comment below if you'd like to be entered for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Today is a virtual book tour stop for Adrienne Clarke and her young adult fantasy romance novel To Dance in Liradon.

Adrienne
will be awarding winner's choice of a Kindle touch, Nook Simple Touch, or a $100
Apple gift card, and one crystal Faerie necklace similar to what Brigid wore to
the Faerie ball to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

I think I became a writer because the world inside my head was so
real and vivid, sometimes more so than the outside world. In some sense I have lived
parallel lives, present in my real and imaginary lives in different ways.
Because much of my childhood was spent searching for faeries or reading about
them, it is natural that my work encompasses fairy tale themes and other
magical elements. In the words of Tennessee Williams, forget reality, give me
magic!

Adrienne has previously published short stories in The
Storyteller, Beginnings Magazine, New Plains Review, and in the e-zines A Fly
in Amber, Grim Graffiti, Les Bonnes Fees, The Altruist, The Devilfish Review,
and Rose Red Review. Her short story, Falling was awarded second place in the
2008 Alice Munro short fiction contest. To Dance in Liradon is her first
published novel.

An avid reader of fairy tales and other magical stories, a thread
of the mysterious or unexpected runs through all of her work. When she’s not
writing Adrienne can be found searching for faeries along with her daughters
Callista and Juliet.

Please tell us
about your current release.

Drawing on
elements of Celtic fairy tale mythology, To
Dance in Liradon is filled with magic and romance, but it’s also a story
about growing up, about the deceitful nature of appearances, and, most
importantly, about what it is to be human and to love.

What inspired you to write this book?

The story for
To Dance in Liradon has been with me
for a long time. I have a shared passion for fairy tales and Celtic mythology,
and I knew I wanted to write a book that drew on the magic and romance of both.
I’ve always loved stories about the Irish Tuatha De Danann: Tall, beautiful,
proud, and amoral, who have a propensity for falling in love with humans. To
Dance in Liradon explores what happens when the human and Faerie worlds
collide.

Excerpt:

(The
excerpt included here shows Brigid’s exceptional talent for dancing. It’s one
of the things that set her apart from the other villagers, who believe Brigid’s
lightness of step is a sign she’s been touched by the Faerie.)

Brigid
allowed the sweet music to seep into her veins and then she was away. Away from
the disapproving eyes of the other villagers, away from her mother’s fond but
anxious expression, away from Connell and his undecided intentions. Once she
was inside the music nothing else mattered. She felt as free and untouchable as
the lord himself. As she advanced around the ring, her feet tapping lightly
against the ground, she was dimly aware of the other dancers. Two had already
left; their desire for more ale greater than their desire for the cake. Ahead
of her, Isibeal, Tanner’s daughter, stumbled and Brigid danced around her like
the wind.

Brigid never
got a cramp in her side or lost her footing. Once she started dancing her
tiredness fell away from her like a heavy, velvet cloak. She could go round and
round the ring until a new sun rose in the sky. But she would not have long to
wait for her victory. One by one the other dancers began to tire. Fin, the
Falconer’s son, one of Brigid’s long-ago playmates, fell to the ground gasping
for breath.

“No more,” he
said before struggling to his feet.

Mary, Baker’s
daughter, and Isibeal also took their leave. Brigid could feel their jealous
glances burning into her back after they rejoined their families who stood
around the ring waiting to see who would falter next.

Now only
Brigid and Deirdre Faolan were left. The two girls danced alone together on
many such occasions. Deirdre did not possess Brigid’s love of music, or her
graceful footwork, but she was sturdy and strong from her work in the fields,
and the desire to win radiated from her well-muscled limbs.

The dancers
shared the same steps but their movements were as different from one another as
the sun and the moon. Deirdre’s brow glistened with sweat, two hectic spots of
colour staining her ruddy cheeks, while Brigid felt as cool and weightless as a
shadow. But if her feet held some magic, her shoes possessed none. Already worn
through in several places, she felt the soles of her feet connect with the hard
ground. Still she danced on, her pale face upturned to the sky, which was now
well and truly dark. She wished she could dance her way up to the highest star
and disappear into the sky’s inky blackness.

What exciting story are you working on
next?

I’m very excited about my novel in progress, Opium Ghosts. It’s a supernatural mystery set in Victorian London
at the height of the spiritualist movement. I’ve always been interested in
séances, ghosts and mediums, and I loved the idea of writing a historical novel
that was part romance part ghost story. The growth of spiritualism also marks a
fascinating period in women’s history – all of a sudden young middle class
women found themselves in positions of real power. Some of the most famous
mediums of the day were teenage girls who captivated their audiences with
ghostly materializations, or not, depending on whether you believe in spirits
or trickery. I’ve done research for all my novels, but the research for Opium Ghosts has definitely been the
most fun.

When did you first consider yourself a
writer?

When I was
in grade two I wrote a poem called “Dreamers,” that to my astonishment made my
teacher swoon. It’s my first memory of feeling like writing was something I was
good at. After that I was hooked.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

My day job
involves working as a mediator, but right now I’m on an extended maternity
leave. I write the days that my 2-year old daughter is in daycare, and when I
can manage it I get up really early to write before everyone else wakes up. It
can be a difficult balancing act, but I write because I must – there’s no
choice involved.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

I write all
my first drafts long hand – an increasingly odd practice!

As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?

A writer, a
ballerina, and a magician – in that order.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?

I hope that
if you do decide to read To Dance in
Liradon you’ll let me know what you thought. Connecting with readers is one
of the best things about being a writer. I’d love to hear from you!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Today's blog guest is novelist Cynthia Owens. This is the first of many stops she's making as she does a virtual book tour for her historical romance, Playing for Keeps.

Cynthia
will be awarding a sterling silver Claddagh pendant (US/Canada only) to a randomly
drawn commenter during the tour, and a second randomly drawn winner will
receive winner's choice of an autographed copy of either Cynthia's first or
second book (In Sunshine or in Shadow, or Coming Home).

I
believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant
ancestors, Thomas Aubert, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to
discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another
relative was a 17th Century “King’s Girl,” one of a group of young unmarried
girls sent to New France (now the province of
Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there.

My
passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed, and I
tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later, fancying
myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber, I drafted a musical set in Paris
during WWII.

A
former journalist and lifelong Celtophile, I enjoyed a previous career as a
reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to
my first love, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting,
hero or heroine, and sometimes all three. My novels, In Sunshine or in Shadow
and Coming Home, set in post-Famine Ireland, are available from Highland Press.
Playing For Keeps, the third book in the Claddagh series, will also be
published by Highland Press.

I
am a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History Romance
Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. A lifelong resident of Montreal,
Canada, I still live there with my own Celtic hero and our two school-aged
children.

Please
tell us about your current release.

Playing For Keeps is the
third book in the Claddagh Series, historical romances set in Ireland and
beyond. My heroine, Katie O’Brien, is the daughter of an Irish landlord who has
spent most of her life in the tiny, west-of-Ireland village of Ballycashel. Now
eighteen, she’s convinced her father to allow her to return to Baltimore to
become reacquainted with her late mother’s family. The reunion doesn’t go
smoothly, though, and Katie finds herself longing for the loving family and
friends she left behind.

Until
she meets Lucas Howard. Lucas is an actor with the Shannon Troupe, a handsome,
golden-haired man with wit and charm – and a passion for Katie O’Brien. But
their love is threatened by buried secrets, old rivalries, and Lucas must make
a decision that could tear the apart forever.

Is
their love just a brief interlude, or are Lucas and Katie Playing For Keeps?

What
inspired you to write this book?

Katie
appeared in my first book, In Sunshine or
in Shadow, and a throwaway remark she made in one scene told me she had to
have her own story. Her father, Rory O’Brien, told her that one day, if she
wanted to, she might return to America to visit her cousins, and it was then I
knew I write Katie’s story. I’ve always loved Shakespeare and the theatre (as Katie
does also), so what better hero for her than an actor? And I was thrilled to be
able to set at least part of the book around the theatre.

Excerpt:

“The Theatre Royale is obviously the
place to be tonight.”

Lights dimmed; thunder cracked and
rumbled through the theatre. Katie blinked as bright flashes of lightning
illuminated the house. Then her breath suspended in her throat as the red
velvet curtain slowly rose and, accompanied by eerie music, three bearded
witches slunk onstage.

When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning or in rain?…

The magic had begun.

Lost in Shakespeare’s mystical
otherworld, Katie drank in the lyricism of the Weird Sisters’ chants. A trumpet
sounded off stage, and suddenly the words registered not only in her ears, but
in her

heart.

This is the sergeant, Who like a
good and hardy soldier fought ’gainst my captivity.

That voice! As smooth as her
father’s best Irish whiskey, it shot through Katie’s veins like a liquid flame.
It was he. The height, the golden hair, his very presence screamed to her that
it was he, Apollo. Oh, how very fitting that he should play the role of
Malcolm, the bright young prince destined to be king…

He was magnificent in medieval
plaid, his strong legs encased in woolen hose, his sword glittering at his
side. His broad shoulders wore the plaid with pride, and when he turned to face
the audience, she felt his smile like a blow to her heart.

The instant the house lights came up
and she could see properly, she glanced quickly through the program.

Malcolm.………………………Lucas Howard

Lucas Howard. A fine, strong name,
and somehow appropriate. Those golden eyes could pierce right through to a
woman’s soul and strip it bare. Oh, if only she could see him again, hear his
whiskey-smooth voice, see his dazzling smile aimed only at her.

But of course, that was silly. Lucas
Howard was probably as unaware of her as she was conscious of him. She was
nothing to him but a potential member of a prospective audience, a ticket sale to
add to the theatre’s coffers.

With that depressing thought, she
pasted on a smile as the first guests arrived at their box.

…Let us seek out some desolate
shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty.

The voice, filled with such powerful
grief and longing, sent shivers dancing along Katie’s spine. She stared hard
through her mother-of-pearl opera glasses, cool against her heated fingertips.
His presence on the stage was compelling, his attraction undeniable. As she let
her gaze wander for a fleeting second, she saw many pairs of opera glasses
pointed in the same direction.

She’d be willing to bet all her
winnings at last year’s Galway Races that most of them were pointed at Mr. Howard.

She soon became absorbed in the play
once again. And it wasn’t only because of Lucas Howard. The entire cast was
superb, particularly the lovely blonde actress who portrayed Lady Macbeth, and
the older actor—it was he who had swept into the White Rose with Lucas—in the
role of Macbeth.

But in truth, Katie only saw Lucas.

What
exciting story are you working on next?

I
have several stories-in-progress on my laptop right now. One of them that I’m
really excited about is tentatively entitled “Everlasting.” It’s the fourth
book of the Claddagh Series, and the heroine is Shannon Flynn, who appeared
briefly in Coming Home, Book II of
the Series. Shannon is Tom Flynn’s eldest
daughter, and since her shy, tentative romance with Mike Donavan, she’s had a
lot of heartache. Can a mysterious stranger with burnt-cinnamon hair and
sea-mist eyes bring her the joy and fulfillment she deserves?

When
did you first consider yourself a writer?

I
began writing stories in the second grade, so I’ve always considered myself a
writer in one way or another. Published or unpublished, I’ve always called
myself a writer, maybe because I can’t not
write. Even when I take a short break from writing, I’m still thinking about my
stories, taking notes, writing down ideas. My characters are never far from my
mind.

But
I think the moment I believed, really believed
I was a writer, was the day I held my first book in my hand, when I ran my hand
over my name on the cover and raised
it to my face to smell that wonderful “new book smell.” That convinced me that
all my dreams had really, finally come true.

Do
you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do
other than write and how do you find time to write?

Well,
I have two kids, so “full-time” is a relative term. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I’ve always had to work
around my husband, my kids, and the mundane stuff like housework and cleaning,
etc. Both my kids are in their teens now, so it’s been easier, but when they
were younger, I had to write when I could find the time, whether it was early
in the morning, late at night, or during nap times.

I
still like to write in the morning, since I feel at my most creative then. As
soon as the house is empty, and everyone has left for work or school, I put on
my favorite music (usually Irish, since my books are either set in Ireland or
feature Irish characters) and just write.
I try to write at least 1,000 words a day, sometimes 1,500, depending on how
the story’s unfolding. I try to keep regular work hours during the day, and
keep weekends free for family.

What
would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Music
inspires my storylines. While writing my first book, In Sunshine or in Shadow, I listened to a lot of Irish music
(seemed sensible, since the book was set in Ireland). One of my favorite Irish
songs is The Fields of Athenry, a
song about Ireland’s Great Hunger, as sung by the incomparable Paddy Reilly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cc1zViuQ7Q. As I listened to
the song one afternoon, I envisioned the entire back story for my heroine,
Siobhán Desmond. I changed it up a bit (Siobhán’s husband was hanged, rather
than transported to Australia), but the germ of the idea came directly from
listening to that one song.

As
a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

My
ambitions seemed to change on a weekly basis as I grew up. One of my favorite
books as a child was Heidi, and I was
determined I would one day be Heidi.
I was also a HUGE fan of the Nancy Drew
Mystery Stories, and for a while I was convinced I’d one day become a “girl
detective.” But from the time I was about 11, I decided I’d one day write books
like those I loved to read.

Anything
additional you want to share with the readers?

I’d
like to thank everyone who came by to visit with me today. I love to hear from
my readers, and I love to get to know them. Readers who want to can contact me
at authorcynthiaowens@gmail.com I do my best to answer e-mails as quickly as
possible.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Today is a book promotion stop for Hazel Statham's novel For Love of Sarah.

Hazel
will be awarding winner's choice of either a Cream Coin Freshwater Pearl
necklace or a digital copy of Dominic or His Shadowed Heart to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave an e-mail address with your comment below. And to increase your chances of winning, you can visit other tour stops and leave other comments.

Bio:

Hazel
Statham began writing at the age of fifteen, finally committing to paper the
stories she spun as a child. Writing has been her passion ever since, although
marriage, motherhood, and career left time for little else. Once she retired,
however, she was able to devote herself to writing full-time, publishing her
first novel in 2007. A long time student of history, she writes mainly in the
Regency and Georgian eras, though she has been known to dabble in the medieval
as well. She lives in Staffordshire, England, with her husband, Terry, and
their beloved yellow Labrador, Mollie.

Hazel
loves to hear from her readers and promises to answer all mail.

Blurb:

How many times can a heart be broken?How many times can love be denied?Sarah and Alexander were destined for each
other, but after just four short weeks of marriage, their lives were torn
asunder.

Alexander, Earl of Thorne thought he had found
his ideal mate but, when Sarah absconded shortly after their marriage, his
world came crashing down. Now, five
years later, he discovers her in a remote Yorkshire village.

Sarah had thought she was safe, but when severely injured in a freak accident, her husband is thrust once more into her
life, she fears her dark secrets and the fact she has a son, will become
known.

Despite her own desperate longings, she
continually repudiates Alexander’s efforts of reconciliation. However, fate
conspires against her, and when her home is made uninhabitable by floods, she
and her young son are forced to accept his aid and return to her former home.

Discovery threatens and, despite her breaking
heart, she plans to leave Alexander’s life.
What is this secret that makes it so imperative that she should abscond
from him yet again? Can two broken
hearts cleave and emerge victorious or will life's cruel forces tear them apart
forever?

Excerpt:

“There is no man with whom I live. I
am thought to be a widow by the villagers.”

“A widow? By God, you would feel so,
in fact, if I were able to leave this accursed bed. He would find no place to
be safe from me!”

“There is no one,” she cried, her
voice rising to the verge of tears.

“Then he has left you,” stated the
earl, coldly. “Taken what he desired and left you to bear the consequences
alone. Or did he discover your duplicitous nature and decide he would not play
the fool to your deception?”

“My nature is not at all as you
suppose, sir. I merely fell prey to a circumstance that has blighted my life.”

“Infidelity and desertion are
definitely circumstances that blight your life, and those who are associated
with you. When I sought your brother, it was reported that he had gone to
India. Even your grandfather is in ignorance of your whereabouts. I thought you
may have flown to him, but when I looked for you there, he had no more
information than I and the poor man is desperate for knowledge of you.”

"And if he should have that
knowledge, he would disown me and his life would be in ruin. It is best that
you and he should forget my existence. I have built a new life far removed from
your world.”

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Reviews and Interviews is a virtual blurb blitz tour stop today for Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain
Glyndwr by N. Gemini Sasson. It's historical fiction available from Cader
Idris Press.N. Gemini will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn
commenter during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And to increase your chances of winning, visit other stops and leave more comments.Bio:

N. Gemini
Sasson is the author of six historical novels set in 14th and 15th century
Scotland, England and Wales, including The Bruce Trilogy and Isabeau, A Novel
of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist in
Historical Fiction). Her latest release is Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of
Owain Glyndwr. Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella,
Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.

Blurb:

For centuries, the bards have sung of King
Arthur’s return, but is this reluctant warrior prince the answer to those
prophecies?

In the year 1399, Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr
is living out a peaceful gentleman’s life in the Dee Valley of Wales with his
wife Margaret and their eleven children. But when Henry of Bolingbroke, the
Duke of Lancaster, usurps the throne of England from his cousin Richard II,
that tranquility is forever shattered. What starts as a feud with a neighboring
English lord over a strip of land evolves into something greater—a fight for
the very independence of Wales.

Leading his crude army of Welshmen against
armor-clad columns of English, Owain wins key victories over his enemies. After
a harrowing encounter on the misty slopes of Cadair Idris, the English knight
Harry Hotspur offers Owain a pact he cannot resist.

Peace, however, comes with a price. As
tragedies mount, Owain questions whether he can find the strength within
himself not only to challenge the most powerful monarch of his time, but to
fulfill the prophecies and lead his people to freedom without destroying those
around him.

Excerpt:

Owain shook her, his voice full of
anger. “Damn it! Let him burn this house. Let him level every stone for miles.
I will not have you all dead or taken captive.” All at once, the harsh lines in
his face went soft. “Tudur and Rhys came not an hour ago directly from Ruthin.
Grey’s forces were gathering there. Far more men than he had sworn to limit
himself to bringing here. And I doubt he was headed back to Scotland anytime
soon. We are all in grave danger. I haven’t the means to keep him from taking
this place, if that is his intent.”

“Then we shall all go to Wrexham,”
Margaret pleaded. “John and Phillip will help us. You can plead your case with
the king or... or some other great lord. Surely there is one who will support
you?”

“And put your brothers’ lives at
risk? Henry cares not one whit for my case. He has already proven that. Grey is
his pet who may take whatever scraps he can wrest from us as reward for his
loyalty. No, we must save ourselves first. Save the children.”

Margaret shook her head. The reality
was too bitter to accept, the implications too far-reaching, the future too
uncertain. “What then? When will I see you again? Where will you go?”

“I... I don’t know when. And as for
where, perhaps it’s best you don’t know.”

He pressed her hands together
between his and then kissed the ends of her fingers.

Margaret stood as motionless and
mute as a cairn battered by a terrible storm. Minutes passed before she
realized that Owain had walked off and her children and servants were scurrying
past her, urging her to hurry.

JamieBMusings
is a music addict, book lover, pet servant & NaNoWriMo survivor.
When she's not busy writing posts for CultureShock,
she's taking pictures for her new obsession (That Photo Blog) and
spending time with her husband and pets.

Her
first book, The Life and Times of No One in Particular, was released
in May.

P Bialois’ love of
words began as a small child when his father bought a stack of comics
to teach him the reading skills he wasn’t mastering in class.
Before long, he was reading at an advanced level and teachers were
shaking their heads over the unconventional method.

Growing up in the ‘80s,
Bialois was exposed to even further inspiration through the popular
cartoons of the day. Transformers, in particular, sparked his
imagination and led to him put his first stories on paper. After a
decades-long break, Bialois began getting back into the world of
writing by joining some role-playing groups. These groups taught him
about fleshing out characters and building worlds that stuck with him
as he began writing short stories for fun.

To his surprise, Bialois
would end up completing his first full-length novel, Call
of Poseidon,
in 2007. Armed with a finished product, Bialois began working on
another book, The
Sword and the Flame,
unsure of what he would ultimately be doing with either. As with many
others in the later part of the first decade of the 2000’s, he
found himself out of work and looking into new options. Over the next
two years, he would spend most days at the library, completing an
additional half-dozen works.

Two books later, Bialois
is planning for the release of many more and enjoying the feedback he
receives. The up-and-coming author takes inspiration from favorites
such as Steven King, Tom Clancy and Sue Grafton. His love of history,
fantasy and old monster movies has also served as a muse.

When he’s not busy
writer or chatting on his social networks, Bialois enjoys watching
Hockey and Football as well as Metallica DVDs. He currently lives
with his wife- a fellow writer- and their fur children. CP Bialois is
also active in several South Florida writing groups, as well as the
online writer community.

The
Kindred is the second novella in The Night School Vampire Hunter
Trilogy.Angel
and her friends at Ame Academy, a boarding school for preternatural
and humans are back, and they are preparing for battle against the
dark forces that kidnapped Angel’s younger brother Jordan. Angel
had recently discovered that she was a Hunter and that she alone has
a special weapon against her enemies; her blood, which is discovered
to be toxic to her enemies. Angel is prepared to use her training and
all that is at her disposal in order to save Jordan, even if that
means joining forces with the strange and mysterious Rafael, who at
their first meeting, she recognized him as the boy she had dreamed
about for weeks prior to his arrival at the school. Angel cannot
shake the feeling that she knew Rafael before, and is hopelessly
drawn to her extremely handsome fellow hunter.

Rafael
frightens her, he hints of a secret; another time and another life
lived.Can
love survive two lifetimes?Events
unfold that provides the answers to who Rafael really is and what
they mean to one another; and along with these strange and blossoming
emotions for Rafael, along with guilt and fear for her brothers
safety; Angel discovers that she is more than just a Vampire Hunter,
and that she plays a major role in a ancient prophecy, which she must
fulfill by facing an a force so evil that survival is not
promised.But
she will face the Dark One, Angel will sacrifice all, if it means
saving all whom she loves.Many
questions are answered, but the drama is just
beginning….Amazon|Barnes
and Noble|Smashwords

Kindred Excerpt:

A thought came into my head and I turned, pinning Rafael with a please don’t mess with me right now…or I’ll rip your heart out stare. I said, “When we first met, you said we knew one another that you were with me when I was little, that we’ve always known one another…always…l-l-oved one another…” I quickly tuned out the others in the room, not wishing to focus on the reactions of the others…although I did catch the big smile from Elin; an incurable romantic it seemed. I knew this should have been a private conversation, but deep down I felt Rafael knew what was happening; I wanted to know what he knew…

He looked at me, with one of those intense, smoldering I’m a hot guy, and I really know what this look is doing to you stare…but I wasn’t going to allow it to affect me. I simply held his gaze in a stable, strong manner…and hoped I didn’t look like a deer in the headlights… he sighed and said, “Do you really want to talk about this here?” Rafael looked at me intently, leaning forward, resting his forearms on his knees…hands pressed together in the steeple formation that everyone uses to signify they are deep in thought.

I said quietly, “Yes.” He looked at me again, and I swear, if he didn’t stop looking at me that way, I would completely forget what we were talking about. He stood up, and crossed the room and came to stand in front of me—did I happen to mention how close he was? Well, enough that I felt a little uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t step back, and I refocused. I needed to hear what he had to say.

“I knew you because I am ThunderKin; yes, I knew who you were and what this meant in the war coming Samhain…”

“Okay,” I said trying to digest that here stood one of the legendary Thunderbirds…I saw how his eyes glowed, now appearing that unearthly golden hue; a worried expression passed over his features, and I wondered what worried him. I said, “And the rest about knowing me?”

“I knew you because…” he said as he reached out, placed his hand on the side of my face, and leaned in close, lips almost touching. He whispered, “I knew you because you are my destiny…my mate.”

Really can you believe this?

Genre:
Satire

AmazonBeware
the muse with a chip on her shoulder.Muses
are often called uncooperative, grumpy, lazy beings who abandon a
writer when they're needed most. Now, one of them has decided to tell
their side of the story. Meet Clarissa, a muse who has spent
centuries trying to inspire artists who sometimes are too stubborn to
listen to her.What
is your muse trying to say to you? Clarissa might just be able to
answer that...

The Life and Times of Noone Inparticular Excerpt:

So why do they happen? Like I said, some people are not opening up to their muses so they can’t hear the messages we’re trying so hard to get through. They are some that are tuning out because it’s just easier to take someone else’s work and modify it. Others aren’t doing it because they’re afraid of falling flat on their faces. With a proven name, you’re

guaranteed an audience. What if you do an original movie, show or song and no one likes it? I’ve heard it all a hundred times. Some of the most high-strung people I have ever met in all my years of doing this were entertainment executives.It’s like they’re afraid to be human or to have the actors and musicians they hire do the same. I gave up on them years ago. They always take the safest route possible. The safest route might make it easier to get rich quick, but it’s usuallythe most creatively boring.

Fear hampers the creative process and makes it harder for us to get through to our charges. That’s the one most important piece of advice you need most, take it from a muse- relax. Art doesn’t just inspire or teach here and there; it’s supposed to be fun, too!

Publisher:
CP BialoisRelease Date: 10/23/2012Genre:
Horror/SuspenseAmazonBlurb:From
the imagination of CP Bialois, author of Call of Poseidon and the
Sword and the Flame series, comes a collection of short stories
filled horror and suspense. Nothing is as it seems in the world
around us. Join us as we step through the doorway and into the unseen
workings of our world. With each story, Skeleton Key will warm your
heart with a brother’s love, break it with the ultimate betrayal,
and bring the shadows around you to life.Keep
telling yourself it’s only a book, and maybe that sound you heard
will be just a tree limb scratching against the window. Be sure to
read the paper in the morning, as it may save your life. And never,
go into a room without something to defend yourself with. Most
important of all, relax and have fun.

Skeleton
Key Excerpt:

Camping
101 excerpt

“The
one that comes to mind is about a family that went camping one
summer, not too long ago. They settled in by their fire, much as
we’re doing now, huddled together and sharing blankets. The night
was clear and you could see all of the stars.” He motioned to the
cloudless sky and stars, which could still be seen despite the fire.
“The same as tonight.”

“Unknown
to the family, there was a secret military facility at the base of
the mountain where they were experimenting on volunteers. The men
that volunteered did so to help their country, but what was done to
them…” He trailed off, shaking his head before continuing. “Is
beyond description. Earlier that night they managed to escape,
killing a handful of guards before escaping into the woods. Just as
the family settled in for the night, the bushes around them rustled
and the seven men burst out and seized the family.”

“Did
they kill ‘em?” Jason’s eyes were wide as were the rest in the
group. Lester knew he had them right where he wanted them.

Slowly,
Lester nodded. “They tore the people apart with their bare hands
and began to eat them. That was how the men were found an hour later,
sleeping with full stomachs and dried blood coating their faces,
hands, and chests.”

“What
happened to the men?” This time Eric spoke, his face was the only
one of the group that hadn’t gone pale.

Lester
sat back and let out a deep breath, his hand dropped to the machete
propped next to him against the tree. “They took the six of them
back to the compound where they still are as far as anyone knows. The
incident was covered up and blamed on a hitchhiker, turned serial
killer.”

Scratches
Excerpt

Lee
nodded, "Exactly, here I thought I had found paradise. But then
I guess no matter where you find it, paradise has to have a serpent."

Elias
looked at him with a worried look. Thoughts of Slasher films danced
through his head. "Is there something wrong here, Lee?"

Lee
shrugged, "Dunno, depends on whether you believe all them ghost
stories. People always come up here lookin' fer the ghost of the
little girl, but they never find her."

Meredith
felt a little chill go through her. "A little girl's ghost?"

Lee
nodded and puffed on his pipe some more. "That's right. A little
girl supposedly heard scratching at her bedroom window one night and
opened it. Next day she was found dead by her brother. No one knew
what to think or believe. There was no signs of struggle, no sign of
what happened besides deep scratch marks on her windowsill. Since
then, some say her ghost can be seen by the lake, but those that see
her don't live to tell about it."

Meredith
remained quiet for a moment. Her own mind was thinking of the stories
of missing children in the paper on a daily basis. "Do you
believe those stories?"

Lee
stayed quiet for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Nah,
for the simple fact that how's anyone to know you died if you see
her, if no one's lived to tell about it? Nothing more than campfire
stories, if you ask me."

About
Artist Cecile Monique

With
her powerful, yet angelic voice and unmistakable charisma, Cecile
Monique is a multi-talented musical artist ready to make her mark on
the international music scene. Cecile Monique is not only an
accomplished vocalist; she is also a skilled writer, composer, and
arranger of her own original music. Her years of formal classical
vocal training provided the foundation, but her singular
creativity...

,
diverse musical influences, and her fresh, youthful style have
provided the fuel to create the distinctive fusion of rich,
classically-influenced vocals with modern, innovative instrumentation
that exist together in perfect harmony and have become Cecile
Monique’s signature, genre-bending sound.

In addition to
her impressive musical talent, Cecile’s cosmopolitan personality
and multicultural roots (half European and half Hispanic) also
broaden her appeal to an international audience; Cecile is fluent in
several languages and has recorded and performed songs in English,
Spanish, French, Italian, German, Czech, and Latin.

In 2010,
Cecile Monique was awarded the prestigious FACTOR New Talent Award in
support of her self-titled EP release featuring three of her original
compositions, which was recorded at Metalworks Studios, Canada’s #1
recording studio. With the launch of her new EP now available on
iTunes worldwide, and a myriad of new projects on the horizon, Cecile
Monique is a rising star poised to become an international
phenomenon!

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About Me

I'm a NH native and love New England. I love writing about the region, exploring it on foot, on my bicycle, and in my car. There are so many small communities and fun and interesting people in this area, that I could be here a lifetime and not do all it is I want to do. :)

I'm a moderator at The Writer's Chatroom that hosts live chats with guest authors on Sunday nights 7-9PM EST. Join the e-mail list to get notifications of upcoming guests, then stop in and join the conversation!